New Delhi: The Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to revive 50 unserved and under-served airports as well as airstrips at an estimated cost of 4,500 crore.

With the plan, the government is looking to enhance air connectivity to small cities and towns while the revival of such airports and airstrips would be "demand driven".

The proposal was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The total cost of the project is estimated to be 4,500 crore. 15 airports/airstrips each would be revived during 2017-18 and 2018-19 each while 20 airports/airstrips would be revived during 2019-20," an official release said.

As many as 50 unserved and under-served airports and airstrips of state governments, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and civil enclaves would be covered.

"Small cities/towns shall be connected on commencement of operation of flights to under-served/unserved airports.

"It will further boost the economic development in these areas as well as surrounding areas in terms of job creation and related infrastructure development," the release said.

While noting that revival plan would be demand driven, the government said it would depend on firm commitment from airline operators as well as the state governments in terms of providing various concessions.

The unserved and under-served airports are to be developed "without insisting on financial viability", the release said.

In the Union Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced plans for making adequate provisions for revival of unserved and under-served airports.

To make flying more affordable, the government has already unveiled the ambitious regional connectivity scheme UDAN ('Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik') under which fares are to be capped at 2,500 for one-hour flights.

important points:
1) infra spending by Govt without "economic feasibility study" to push for more even development
2) idea encompasses providing jobs, related infra development
3) fares for less than 1 hr flight to be capped at 2500 Rs - this will probably give a boost to tourism and Business (1 hour radius around various city like Bangalore - you can touch Hyd, Chennai, Pune I think)

connectivity is an issue because I have seen such pushes in smaller cities fail due to lack of air traffic. For airforce, I have been saying this for ages that all forward bases need to be maintained.

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actually - am worried about this too - China has a their "ghost towns" in the same way. the demand should provide for the development. it does not work backward.

however, just like providing roads improves the connectivity of surrounding small towns (and hence their economic activity), providing the infrastucture for cheap air travel may increase the economic activity of the region.

unfortunately, I think this will be milked by the local politicians/ goonda raj to encroach on the lands near by (juet before the areas are sanctioned) and be sold at exorbitant prices for the mere mortals - a game plan thats going since too long everywhere.

actually - am worried about this too - China has a their "ghost towns" in the same way. the demand should provide for the development. it does not work backward.

however, just like providing roads improves the connectivity of surrounding small towns (and hence their economic activity), providing the infrastucture for cheap air travel may increase the economic activity of the region.

unfortunately, I think this will be milked by the local politicians/ goonda raj to encroach on the lands near by (juet before the areas are sanctioned) and be sold at exorbitant prices for the mere mortals - a game plan thats going since too long everywhere.

Click to expand...

Just because the government okays doesn't always mean the projects would actually take shape. i am pretty sure the air strips would need to show wither strategic value or economic viability for any project to commence. the government has gone down this path before, and has been bitten, so I am sure common sense will prevail.

Just because the government okays doesn't always mean the projects would actually take shape. i am pretty sure the air strips would need to show wither strategic value or economic viability for any project to commence. the government has gone down this path before, and has been bitten, so I am sure common sense will prevail.

While noting that revival plan would be demand driven, the government said it would depend on firm commitment from airline operators as well as the state governments in terms of providing various concessions.

The unserved and under-served airports are to be developed "without insisting on financial viability", the release said.